Lingerie clasp



L. FFM MANIS LINGERIE CLASP July 12, 1949. 2,475,849

Patented July 12, 1949 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention is a lingerie clasp adapted for use in connection with womens apparel. The invention pertains to a clasp or holder for application to the underside of womens wear, such as a dress, at the shoulder portion thereof, equipped with means whereby the straps or ribbons supporting undergarments and which usually pass over the shoulder may be held firmly and against slipping down out of position upon the upper arms of the wearer.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a clasp or supporter of this character which may be readily applied to or removed from the garment and which may equally as readily be adjusted along the shoulder seam of the wearer, featuring improved means for engaging and maintaining the straps or ribbons against improper movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device thus characterized and embodying means whereby the strap or ribbon may be easily and quickly inserted in the holder and with equal facility removed therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holder of the character and for the purposes stated which is so constructed as to be capable of application to the ordinary well known safety pin and which by means of the arrangement hereafter detailed is firmly anchored to the pin against the possibility of becoming displaced thereon or disengaged therefrom.

With the foregoing objects in View, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the general manner in which the clasp of my invention is employed,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective View of a conventional form of safety pin and illustrating the improved clasp as applied thereto,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a safety pin in closed position and illustrating the parts in the position they normally assume, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional View taken substantially upon the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, a conventional form of safety pin is shown, embodying the shank 5, the movable pin portion 6 forming a part of the shank and connected thereto by the coil 1. 8 indicates the clasp aflixed to the outer 2 end of the shank and with which the spring pin portion 6 may be engaged when the pin is used.

The clasp used in carrying out the invention embodies an arm 9 which may be made of light spring metal of substantially the same gauge as the shank and pin 6. The arm 9 is bent into a convolution It near one end, which convolution encircles and tightly grasps the shank 5 near the loop thereof. The adjacent end of the shank beyond the convolution embodies a straight portion ii extending angularly and outwardly from the convolution It with the extremity bent around the adjacent coil 1 to form a hook l2 to engage and tightly hold upon the said coil.

The major portion of the arm 9 is disposed parallel with and spaced from the shank 5, providing a space between the arm and the shank within which the strap or ribbon to be supported may be engaged. The free end of the arm 9 is offset in the direction of the shank 5 as indicated at loop l3, which loop portion normally engages the shank 5 to close the space between the arm and shank.

In use, the pin portion 6 of the safety pin will be engaged with the outer garment of the wearer at the shoulder portion thereof and preferably parallel with the shoulder seam and pointing in the direction of the neck of the wearer. This will dispose the free end of the arm 9 to ward the neck. The straps or ribbons to be supported are passed into the space between the arm 9 and shank 5, past the loop portion I3, and as soon as they are accommodated within the said space the spring tension of the arm closes the clasp. Danger of the straps or ribbons becoming detached from the clasp is thereby prevented.

It will be observed particularly with reference to Fig. 4 of the drawing that the arm 9 is disposed directly beneath and in parallelism With the shank 5. The arrangement of the convolution It and the hook I2 is such that both of them bind themselves tightly with the shank and coil 1. This double connection maintains the arm 9 in proper spaced relation to the shank 5, as Well as in proper parallelism therewith and against any tendency toward lateral or improper deflection. The construction of the arm in this manner permits it to be attached to the well known standard safety pin Without changing the construction of the same and yet the arm is rigidly held in proper ribbon or strap-engaging position at all times.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a lingerie clasp a shank, a spring coil at one end of said shank, an arm formed of resilient material and straight throughout the greater part of its length, double loop elements formed in one end of said arm and offset therefrom and engaged respectively with said loop and said shank, the said arm disposed parallel with said shank, and a loop at the free end of said arm engaged with said shank to hold the latter spaced from said shank and to form a closed loop between said shank and said arm.

2. In a, lingerie clasp, a shank, a spring coil at one end of said shank, an arm formed of a resilient wire, a hook at one end of said arm offset therefrom and lockingly engaged with said coil, a convolution in said arm adjacent to said hook and encircling said shank, said arm paralleling said shank, and a loop at the free end of said arm normally engaged with said shank to hold the arm yieldingly spaced therefrom to provide a closed loop.

3. In a. lingerie clasp, a straight shank, a spring coil at one end of said shank andoffset therefrom,

an arm formed of resilient wire, a hook at one end of said arm offset from the latter and in looking engagement around said coil, a convolution in said arm portion engaged with said shank adjacent to said coil, said convolution spacing said arm from said shank and parallel with the latter, and a loop at the free end of said arm projecting in the direction of and normally engaging said shank.

LULU FE.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 939,316 Ranum Nov. 9, 1909 1,640,205 Nichols Aug. 23, 1927 1,696,580 Morgan et a1 Dec. 25, 1928 2,0];3'395'2 George Sept. 10; 1935 2,106,072" St. Clair Jan. 18-, 19 

